Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board How to improve speed?

Hi,

I am 49, live in So.Cal, will be hiking Mt. Whitney for the first time on July 6th (just before my 50th). Camped at Cottonwood Lakes last year and didn’t have a problem with altitude.

Currently I am hiking 14 miles and 4800’ in 8 hours to Mt. Wilson (5700’) on every Saturday. I feel like I am the slowest hiker on the trail.

Am I too slow for Mt. Whitney hike? How do I improve my speed?

I workout at YMCA for five days a week (cardio 90% for 1 hour, 3 X week and weights 2 X week).

Please advise.

Thanks in advance,
Kala

Welcome to the snail's pace club. It doesn't sound like you're any slower than I am and it takes me about 13 hours to do a hike up and down Whitney via the mule trail (main trail) in the summer. It's really not about speed - it's about having the endurance to do the miles/elevation gain. There aren't a lot of people that move real fast above 10,000' elevation.

Also - If you're going with a group and are a bit slower than the others, you can always start an hour earlier than the others and let them catch up. I often do that because it lets me start out nice and slow, which helps me save energy for later in the day.

I like the idea of starting one hour earlier. Thanks

It's hard - but life beomes a lot easier when you stop worrying about how fast you're going. Just take into account your real pace when doing route planning. Also, going alone takes the pressure off - and opens up all kinds of new challenges and rewards. The real payoff is just being out there.

I'll soon be 67 - I'm not only old,I'm really slow. But I eventually get there!

A bad day in the Sierra is better than the best day back at work. Is it time yet?

Sounds like you have the cardio covered. After that it's all elevation. Breathing is a big part of it. If you are in Socal try Mt. Baldy from the village (bear flat) trail and San Gorgonio from the Vivian Creek trail. Butt kickers that have steep gains up to higher elevations (10K and 11.5K). These higher elevation gains also help a lot getting you ready for the downhill on Whitney.

No matter what your speed enjoy your hike. Once you're on the trail you will probably forget all about speed and just enjoy the scenery.

Remember the tortoise and the hare. Here's a quote from the literature regarding pace:

"He abided by the Diemburger theory which maintains that slow, no matter how slow, but constant movement is the best way to achieve progress at altitude."Joe Tasker, Everest the Cruel Way page 84

I so agree. I do better if I go a slow steady pace and not stop as often. When you stop you have to get the momentum going again and then the grove back. If I don't have to stop I just keep going my slow pace.

I do know it's not fun being the slow one but I enjoy the hike and the beauty of the mountain so much more if I'm not trying to keep pace with long legged guys.

If your with a group pick meeting points along the trail where everyone can regroup.

The most important thing is to enjoy yourself.

I have always been told that "speed kills."

Take your time. Heck if you start at midnight and average 1 mph you will get to the top around 11ish...

Then the downhill part is more funner.

Have fun.

Kala, since you're in California you might give White Mountain a whirl before Whitney. The distance and elevation gain are less severe, but you'll be between 12,000 and 14,000 feet for a long time. A lot of folks seem to have trouble on Whitney when they get above Trail Camp (12K'), and it's usually the altitude more than the conditioning. White is one of the few opportunities to get way above 12K' in California relatively easily. Good luck!

I'm sort of a slow poke as well but do a LOT less cardio than you do :-).

That said, what helped me get faster is do steeper trails that really get your heart rate up there. Mt. Wilson is a nice trail but not particularly steep. When I'm short on time, I often just hike to the skihut on Mt. Baldy. It's pretty short but if you push yourself, it's a great workout and really gets your heart rate up there. I think the skihut trail is one of the best in Socal to improve 'speed'.

+ @ti2d.....seriously, you go THAT fast! I'd be eating your scree.

Kala, Wilsons a good hike, especially from Chantry. Keep that up. The Baldy and Gorgornio suggestions are right on. I'd add San Jacinto.

After I failed the top last year in September ( I stopped on the switchbacks ), I hiked up San Jacinto two times and it made it a lot easier when I summited in October. In fact counting the missed Whitney attempt, I hiked above 10,000 elevation 4 times in the last 6 weeks before I summited Whitney.

There is still snow on all three Local Mountains, so it may be a while before you can get up there, but do so as soon as you can.

Are you hiking Wilson with anyone who has summited Whitney?

Plus, it's important to remember it's not how fast they hike, but that we get where we want to go and enjoy the trip.

There are two legs to a mountain trip: long distance endurance and high intensity cardio. I think you fixed the first one with the Wilson trail. IMO, the 2nd one is the one that gives you speed, hence my steep trail suggestion.

I also found that my heart rate recovery rate has much improved, which helps with speed as well since you need shorter breaks.

A sprinter will be really fast but won't last long. A long distance runner might not be fast but can go for a very long time. Trying to combine both is the key IMO.

After trying the Bear Flat trail up to Baldy I am doing it exclusively over the others. At least as far as training for bigger and better things. It's a bum-kicker to be sure. The downhill on that trail really beats me up though, so doing the Backbone down and hitching a ride back to the village gives a little relief, and added scenery.

I must have read that some time in the past... I've always disliked stopping for (long) breaks and as I'm getting older I dislike them even more. It takes me a LONG time to get warmed up after stopping for more than a few minutes. Slow and steady works for me.

I wouldn't exactly call you slow Richard

If you are worried about taking too much time for a day hike, have you ever considered camping at Trail Camp? You have to carry some stuff, but it breaks the trip up and you don't have to hike in the dark!

Yes, I agree a steady pace with just a few short breaks to eat and drink is much nicer than taking long rest breaks. If I stop for more than a few minutes it makes it really hard to get going up the hill again.

When you hit a steep section, push on through the section without stopping because that will make you faster and stronger. Also, take little steps because they use a lot less energy than big steps.

I'll be 50 this year too, so there are a lot of us who are getting up there in age that still get out in the mountains regularly.

Assuming one has reasonable physical attributes, it's as much mental as physical. Here's more from the mountaineering literature. Harvey.

Mountaineers may be divided into two classes according to their behavior when, tired and well-nigh exhausted, they are called upon to make yet one more supreme effort. There are those who, lacking the will power…give in; others…rise to the occasion.
George Finch, Chapters VII-IX in
Bruce, CG The Assault on Mount Everest 1922, page 261